Your best decision in building your shop

[crewchief437]

So i know there are a bunch of what would you have done different in your shop. I was thinking about making a list of everybody's one thing that you feel was the best decision during building and outfitting. talking about start to finish dirtwork to the moment you are ready to start moving your stuff in and using the shop.

Mine is using LED flood lights. Saved me around 2k and gave me great lighting.

 

[EricP]

Attic trusses and a white roof to combat heat in the south.

 

[canuckian]

heat and A/C
washroom/plumbing
13' ceilings
pre wired for network and alarm
as many electrical outlets as I dared fit
loft/office
the list of what I feel were good decisions is much longer but those are some highlights. I pretty much think that for my needs and wants I have my version of the perfect shop. the only oversight that I really regret is not installing in-floor heating. I still may do an over pour in the future and install it that way.

 

[sberry]

I should investigate light. But after a fire I considered down sizing a little and glad I didn't. I was going to divide for storage and paint booth and super glad I came up with a better solution and allowed the place to be fully utilized vs a specialty area.
I love my floor plan, its almost perfect. I had been thru some of it and had been in a lot of shops so I had some idea and had looked at some engineer designed layouts that lacked experience.
Not everything I planned worked out the way I thought but I got the doors and the entrances, aprons and utilities correct where its all a walk thru and to system and quite ergonomic as practical.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

Not built yet, but close. Fact that I didn't rush the layout, design, etc. and my wife likes it as much as I do.

 

[Bill Bowman]

Originally planned for a 30' addition to the garage, but neighbor kind went nuts when I mentioned my plan. (Too large, won't look right, I oppose this, blah, blah) I put the plans on hold, figuring it wasn't in the cards. About 6 month's later, said neighbor drops dead (actually was a good friend, but hard headed). A few month's later, I added 40' to the garage. Sure glad I didn't do the 30'. Thanks Chuck, RIP.

 

[sberry]

My interest in this forum is related to this. Other people drive and sight see, I look at buildings, some good, some great, some missed it by a sliver, too short, wrong door locations are common.
Many are not deal breakers if lightly used or seasonal but where traffic maintenance, occupancy and frequency go up the structure can assist or slow down humans. I try to use the building to create as much "no excuse" convenience as I can build in. The easier it is to do the more likely it will get done. Some of it is psychological,,, doesn't mean it aint real.

 

[sberry]

Originally planned for a 30' addition to the garage, but neighbor kind went nuts when I mentioned my plan. (Too large, won't look right, I oppose this, blah, blah) I put the plans on hold, figuring it wasn't in the cards. About 6 month's later, said neighbor drops dead (actually was a good friend, but hard headed). A few month's later, I added 40' to the garage. Sure glad I didn't do the 30'. Thanks Chuck, RIP.

Yes, I saw a house change hands recently and not many visable mods but if one looks carefully can see the one thing the guy did pronto was tear the rear off a pole barn and add 20 ft to it.
Must live out of town yet, it was super fast and smooth and he guy must have wanted more room prior to a move, was probably cheaper than paying storage rental.
If one does the math and actually walks in 30 ft or 40 ft one can really feel the difference. Don't think a little ole 10 ft means much its huge when you park a car in it and often super cheap to add in the build.

 

[Keithinsc]

15' front porch overhang. I have a garage door that opens to it. Anytime I am welding, grinding or making a mess, I roll the project out of the shop under the porch.
Shaded, out of the weather and all the mess is outside.

Mine is the .gif at the bottom of the page.
http://renegadebuildings.com/

And big + to insulation and a TON of electrical outlets.

 

[iceman510]

Buying a house with the shop already there. Of course now there are a number of things I want to change...

 

[Colin Len]

Attic trusses and a white roof to combat heat in the south.

Have you experienced a difference in temp due to the roof color? I'll be re-roofing my house and garage within the next year or two and need to decide on a color. I heard lighter is better in terms of heat but after some googling ended up just confusing myself. There is lots of info that points to a light color helping and lots of info pointing to it not being a factor as the big issue is the roof material itself heating up and that this will happen regardless of color. And lots of info about the roofing material actually being more important than color (talking only about asphalt shingle here and the different brands specific materials used in different offerings).

I don't necessarily like the look of a lighter roof but one of my big goals with this property is to always make strides to create a more natural balance with the environment to aid in heating, cooling, water usage...etc.

 

[EricP]

Have you experienced a difference in temp due to the roof color? I'll be re-roofing my house and garage within the next year or two and need to decide on a color. I heard lighter is better in terms of heat but after some googling ended up just confusing myself. There is lots of info that points to a light color helping and lots of info pointing to it not being a factor as the big issue is the roof material itself heating up and that this will happen regardless of color. And lots of info about the roofing material actually being more important than color (talking only about asphalt shingle here and the different brands specific materials used in different offerings).

I don't necessarily like the look of a lighter roof but one of my big goals with this property is to always make strides to create a more natural balance with the environment to aid in heating, cooling, water usage...etc.

Well my building never had a different color roof so I can't give you a direct comparison, but I can say that here in the deep south with temps in the 90s the heat radiating from the sandstone colored walls is far greater than the heat radiating from the white roof. With the doors open and a little air circulating is is quite tolerable. My former workshop, a two car garage with dark shingles was a scorcher in the summer discouraging me from using it. The new building doesn't get stuffy like the garage did. I do plan on adding AC but for now I'm fine with it and think the white roof significantly reduces the temperature inside. The 6/12 pitch roof and ridge vent probably help too.

 

[Randy in Maine]

My best decision was to make it as energy efficient as I could. SIP panels construction, insulated radiant floor heat, and modern lighting. Very useful and comfortable to work in year round and costs little very little to heat/cool and to insure.

 

[zkling]

Mine was more of a renovation, but the biggest transformation step was seen by painting the floor, by far.

 

[engineer2]

Putting the compressor in the basement to keep the noise out of the garage and piping the air system in copper.
Hooking up my old Pioneer SX-727 stereo and speakers in the garage an adding an adpater to connect my cell phone to it for tunes.

 

[T-Mac]

Building larger than I think I need!Running out of room already.

 

[Speedster29]

My shop area is under the shed roof and having the open covered area outside the shop has been very nice. When woodworking or welding it helps keep the dust and fumes down. At the end of the day, it is soooo nice to sit under that overhang in the shade and think.

 

[Varkwso]

Electrical outlets every 4 feet and waist high. Best money I spent.

 

[Woodtick]

This is a tiny detail but well worth it. Make sure you put a light or two in the attic. You might think you will never be up there again but I guarantee you will someday. As a remodel Contractor I have been in way too many dark attics, fumbling around with a trouble light or flashlight....but not in my shop!
Rich

 

[Scott V]

Best decision by far was putting a gas fed heater in my garage. It enables me to work/play/party out there all year long, keeps my stuff from freezing and rusting from condensation and couldn't have made it into a man cave without it.

 

[rburke65]

I did a lot of planning before I built. Really liking my full attic, the 20'x 20' porch, lots of outlets and lighting, the 13' 4" ceilings, the lift...... Ok....that's enough for now.

 

[bobcatdan]

Buying a house with the shop already there. Of course now there are a number of things I want to change...

That's what I did. Turn key 24'x24' insulated and heated. Single garage door is offset to one side allowing me to set up a free standing bench just as I wanted. Yeah the shop is a little small and only 8' ceilings, but everything I own fits in there. Did brakes on the truck last night and had plenty of room. Down the road, a 30' x40' may very well take its place, but for now it fits the bill.

 

[sberry]

I like the one by speedster, that's nice.

 

[larry_g]

Radiant heat in the floor.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[sberry]

That's what I did. Turn key 24'x24' insulated and heated. Single garage door is offset to one side allowing me to set up a free standing bench just as I wanted. Yeah the shop is a little small and only 8' ceilings, but everything I own fits in there. Did brakes on the truck last night and had plenty of room. Down the road, a 30' x40' may very well take its place, but for now it fits the bill.

You make a good point about offset door and benches etc. I know people do great things in small work areas. They call a 24x24 a 2 car but they really aint, they are not bad one car and some tools. Like you said, out of the weather to do a brake job,. sufficient.

 

[regguy1]

Gas Heat / Full Insulation / Epoxy Floor / Max Jax Lift / Rear Addition / 20 T8 lights with 6500K Tubes / More here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

 

[rburke65]

I did a lot of planning before I built my shop and some of the things I did that I really like are the full attic with walk up stairs, a 20' x 20' porch, 13' 4" ceilings, lift, lots of lighting and outlets every 6' to 8', and the 12' wide G Doors.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My best decision was to make it as energy efficient as I could. SIP panels construction, insulated radiant floor heat, and modern lighting. Very useful and comfortable to work in year round and costs little very little to heat/cool and to insure.

DETAILS ! DETAILS !! DETAILS !!!

Size ? Any pictures of your build ? How about some pics of you heating system.

 

[mygarageone]

My best decision was to build the thing and heat it with radiant floor heating.

 

[engineer2]

regguy1, that's a nice garage! What's the room off to the side?

 

[dfiler2]

I think the extra money on insulation might be #1. It stays warm and is reasonable to heat even at -30. Including a bathroom an office and a tool room was also a good move the separate room for tools allows me to efficiently pack away tools and only have out the ones I need for the type of work I'm doing.

 

[DC73]

Mine is still under construction - started installing insulation today. But, so far, the overall best decision was to buy another house with land more conducive to building a suitable workshop.

When it's all said and done, I'll really appreciate having a toilet and sink in the shop. I think another good decision will turn out to be adding a small mechanical room to house the compressor, furnace closet, storage, etc, to keep the clutter and noise down in the main shop area.

DC

 

[Burl]

In-floor heat.

 

[cjc2160]

A Crapper and pex in the floor.


Hows that for a first post.

 

[oilslick]

A *******, glass garage doors facing south,air hose reels,32' stall depth.still kicking myself for saving money with overwhelmed concrete finisher.

 

[Chngalay]

A few things I'm happy I thought about before building my shop:
Insulation
A/C and Heat
(2) 10' wide doors
Epoxy floor
8" I-beam framework

A few things I wish I could do over:
Build it TALLER, wider and longer
Planned for a larger workbench area
A covered area outside the main shop for welding, painting, etc..

Overall I am happy with it, but will be better planned next time...

 

[Toolfool]

Running all my electrical conduits, air line conduits, and 6" DC lines under the slab. Spent lots of hours drawing and re-drawing my layout because I knew I only had one shot. I can swing a 20' board around at chest level and not hit anything.

 

[MushCreek]

The best thing about my barn is that I built it first, so I had a place to live while I built the house. Other good things:

Nice and big
Tall enough ceiling for a lift
Full headroom in the loft
Full bathroom
Traditional gambrel roof- looks like an old barn
Really big door opening

 

[Flivver250]

One of the shops I built in northern Idaho 40x42 had 16 foot insulated walls and 14 foot doors (as I recall). I put a large overhead door in the rear so you could drive straight through. It was semi hidden in the woods and the shade eliminated the need for AC. Also had a parking pad out back. Walls can't be too high and can't have too much lighting.

 

[MScott]

12' 3" walls and a full 6" concrete floor with in-floor heating. Also R25 insulation in the walls and R50 in the ceiling.